Weight gain associated with psychotropic medications is one of the side effects that most worry patients. Therefore, this is a sensitive issue that we must take into account and deal with special attention. Changes in body weight vary widely between patients and treatments; for this reason, it is sometimes difficult to generalize and establish common criteria.
Many medications used to treat anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or epilepsy can lead to weight gain or decrease, with associated complications.
- There is evidence that treatments that lead to weight gain have the highest abandonment rates.
- In these cases it is necessary to prevent with an adequate combination of diet and exercise.
On certain occasions, the specialist may modify the treatment, dose or recommendations to correct this change and the complications that arise from it, which can sometimes become quite important.
There are also many medications that do the opposite: weight loss. While this should cause the same concern, the truth is that this side effect is best accepted by patients.
It’s common to hear people say in a familiar way that “antidepressants are getting bigger. “”It is true that weight gain is one of the possible side effects of treatment with most antidepressants. However, some medications used to treat depression are more likely. “than others to cause weight gain.
It is important to note that antidepressants are not always the direct cause of weight gain. When it comes to depression, many factors affect and can contribute to this adverse effect.
In some cases, depression itself results in weight gain due to inactivity, physical inactivity or food anxiety, which many patients suffer in this situation; on the other hand, in some situations depression leads to a decrease in weight and antidepressant treatment, by improving mood, it also increases appetite and therefore body weight.
In short, it is a fact that weight gain is a side effect of some psychotropic antidepressant medications, however, to be more precise, it must also be said that it is not always a direct consequence of the drug. Before making decisions or stopping certain medicines, you should consult a specialist.
Weight gain and changes in body metabolism are the side effects that most affect patients treated with antipsychotics, which is relevant for their negative influence on adherence to treatment.
Conventional antipsychotics usually result in increased weight gain. Others, such as clozapine, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone and ziprasidone. Lithium, carbamazepine and valproic acid, used in bipolar disorder, also tend to increase body weight.
In addition, schizophrenia is directly related to changes in metabolism. These patients with psychotic problems are more likely to develop obesity, among other disorders.
This weight gain, whether due to illness or medication, can be treated with lifestyle interventions, such as physical activity or dietary changes. At other times, additional medications are needed to help you lose weight.
Weight gain is a side effect of treatment with certain psychopharmaceuticals, however, in many cases it can be fought and even avoided, if you have this problem do not hesitate to consult a specialist.
Adherence to the drug is important to prevent possible relapses, especially in disorders for which psychiatric medications are used, it is always better to change treatment than simply to abandon it.